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BJP romps home in style
Ahmedabad, Dec 15: Riding on a Hindutva wave, a resurgent BJP today secured a spectacular two-third majority in the Gujarat Assembly in an election it sees as a harbinger of its return to power at the Centre and some crucial states set to go to polls in the next two years. South Guj, Saurashtra offer consolation to Cong
BJP`s stunning sweep in a highly-polarised election is a triumph for the hardline and controversial Chief Minister Narendra Modi and a major setback to the Congress. An elated Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said the "spectacular" performance in Gujarat assembly polls has launched the party`s march towards victory in coming elections in states and the parliamentary elections in 2004.
Modi`s triumph makes him the undisputed leader of the state with his hardline stance earning the party rich dividend and pushing behind moderates who were against pushing the Godhra and the subsequent communal violence. This is BJP`s first major victory after a string of defeats in the last two years and the success comes ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi next year and the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.
As an icing on the cake, BJP wrested the Mehsana Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat from Congress and retained Godda in Jharkhand while sweeping all the three assembly bye elections in Rajasthan. However, Nainital Lok Sabha bye election in Uttaranchal went in Congress` favour. Newly elected BJP MLAs will meet tomorrow to elect Modi as their leader. Modi would be sworn-in on December 18 at a function likely to be attended by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and top BJP leaders, including president M Venkiah Naidu.
Enjoying their victory, Vajpayee accused Congress of attempting to play the communal card while Advani and Modi said the verdict was against the campaign of slander against police, administration, government and the people of Gujarat. Advani said the result is a lesson for the entire country.
However, Congress and the other opposition parties accused the BJP of having blatantly played the communal card on Hindutva plank but warned that they would not allow it to happen in the rest of the country.
Despite a saffron wave in which the chief minister romped home with a huge margin of over 75,000 votes, nine of his cabinet colleagues and the speaker Dhirubhai Shah were defeated.
Bureau Report
Modi`s triumph makes him the undisputed leader of the state with his hardline stance earning the party rich dividend and pushing behind moderates who were against pushing the Godhra and the subsequent communal violence. This is BJP`s first major victory after a string of defeats in the last two years and the success comes ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi next year and the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.
As an icing on the cake, BJP wrested the Mehsana Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat from Congress and retained Godda in Jharkhand while sweeping all the three assembly bye elections in Rajasthan. However, Nainital Lok Sabha bye election in Uttaranchal went in Congress` favour. Newly elected BJP MLAs will meet tomorrow to elect Modi as their leader. Modi would be sworn-in on December 18 at a function likely to be attended by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and top BJP leaders, including president M Venkiah Naidu.
Enjoying their victory, Vajpayee accused Congress of attempting to play the communal card while Advani and Modi said the verdict was against the campaign of slander against police, administration, government and the people of Gujarat. Advani said the result is a lesson for the entire country.
However, Congress and the other opposition parties accused the BJP of having blatantly played the communal card on Hindutva plank but warned that they would not allow it to happen in the rest of the country.
Despite a saffron wave in which the chief minister romped home with a huge margin of over 75,000 votes, nine of his cabinet colleagues and the speaker Dhirubhai Shah were defeated.
Bureau Report